Retainer Disk for Wire Spool

ABSTRACT

A retainer disk for a wire spool provides a large, rectangular aperture with rounded corners at its center, to accommodate the spindle which forms the axis of the spool. The disk further provides a circular small aperture near its rim, into which the end of the wire may be inserted for storage of the spool, and an erasable label which may be used to identify the type of wire on the spool. The disk is provided in a range of sizes to fit any wire spool, and may be reused once a spool has been expended.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/198,151, filed Jul. 29, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to electrician's tools and equipment, and in particular to a retainer disk for a wire spool. When working in home construction or renovation, electrical contractors must frequently work alone, installing several hundred feet of wiring from wire spools. Unfortunately, the wire feeding from a spool often uncoils spontaneously and becomes tangled. Untangling the wire and respooling it can be time-consuming, and time is money for the contractor. A retainer disk for a wire spool, which directs the wire as it feeds from the spool to prevent tangling, would save the contractor labor costs and would resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a retainer disk for a wire spool. The disk provides a large, rectangular aperture with rounded corners at its center, to accommodate the spindle which forms the axis of the spool. The disk further provides a circular small aperture near its rim, into which the end of the wire may be inserted for storage of the spool, and an erasable label which may be used to identify the type of wire on the spool. The disk is provided in a range of sizes to fit any wire spool, and may be reused once a spool has been expended.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the disk 10, the aperture 11, the small aperture 12, and the label 13.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the disk 10, the aperture 11, the small aperture 12, and the label 13.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a wire spool with the first exemplary embodiment installed, displaying the disk 10, the spool 14, the spindle 15, and the wire 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a retainer disk 10 for a wire spool 14.

It is to be understood that while the invention is intended for use with wire spools, this is not intended as a limitation. With suitable modification or with no modification at all, the invention may be used with other materials which are stored and delivered on large spools, such as flexible pipe.

The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a disk 10 which provides a large, rectangular aperture 11 with rounded corners at its center, to accommodate the spindle 15 which forms the axis of the spool 14. The disk 10 further provides a circular small aperture 12 near its rim, into which the end of the wire 16 may be inserted for storage of the spool 14, and an erasable label 13 which may be used to identify the type of wire 16 on the spool 14.

Preferably, the small aperture 12 is 1.5 inches in diameter, such that the user may insert two fingers into the small aperture 12 for the purpose of carrying the spool 14. The small aperture 12 may also be used to hang up the spool 14 for storage purposes.

The disk 10 is provided in a range of sizes to fit any wire spool 14, and may be reused once a spool 14 has been expended. The disks 10 are inexpensive, compact, and easily stacked for convenient storage when not in use.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user turns the spool 14 such that the spindle 15 is pointing upward. The user then inserts the spindle 15 into the aperture 11 at the center of the disk 10, such that each of the four vertical members of the spindle 15 are pressed into a rounded corner of the aperture 11, and presses downward on the disk 10 until it is secured to the spindle 15 by friction and flexibility. To remove the disk 10 from an empty spool 14, the user may tap upward on the bottom surface of the disk 10 with a hammer.

The disk 10 is preferably manufactured from a rigid, durable material which is lightweight and provides significant structural strength, such as aluminum alloy, steel, or plywood. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A wire spool retainer disk, comprising: a. a disk; b. a large rectangular aperture centered on the disk; c. said large rectangular aperture providing rounded corners; d. said large rectangular aperture being sized and shaped to allow a spindle to pass through the disk; e. said disk resting on top of a spool of wire attached to the spindle. 